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Mar 2011
7:21pm, 8 Mar 2011
55 posts
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Traviss
Yes I agree, which is why forums are great for things like that, knowing which events are strict and which are looser and so on, but do think it is our responsibility as runners to try and adhere to race rules/limits etc. Gloucester for example had a 5 hour limit, which for me was optimistic, but checking on previous years results I saw plenty of runners there in the 5:15 area so that's fair enough, but had they all packed up and gone home at 5 hours then that's my responsibility. I think we're very lucky that we have such a wide range of events available to us and we should appreciate how much effort goes in to putting these events on, and I think part of that appeciation is sticking (as far as we are able) to abide by their rules... volunteers, marshalls etc who are very kindly and generously giving up their time for our benefit, on occasion in very harsh conditions and I'd hate to think of people hanging around for me outside of the limits I know about in advance.
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Mar 2011
7:23pm, 8 Mar 2011
56 posts
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Traviss
Will agree that 3 minutes outside the limit is harsh!! Though Comrades...
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Mar 2011
7:25pm, 8 Mar 2011
31,987 posts
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plodding hippo
Id never do comrades
Imagine going all that way-------------
If a race advertises a cut off fair and square, then thats fine
Not all do, and thre are unofficial cut offs, which aint good
I find the irish marathons the most suportive of the lot for slower runners
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Mar 2011
7:32pm, 8 Mar 2011
57 posts
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Traviss
But then that is part of the appeal of Comrades, it's tough, its supposed to be and they want to keep it that way. If you complete it, then you know you've accomplished something that most humans could never do...
If there are no limits advertised then I think as a runner its our responsibility to establish what we are expected to accomplish on the day. Richmond Park Marathon for example, I couldn't find a time limit on their site, so emailed them before I entered to ascertain what it was. They came back with a "loose 6 hours" so that's fine for me and I entered, if they had come back and said "we're shutting up shop at 5 hours" then I probably wouldn't have.
Unofficial cut offs are not good at all, and if a race does that then we should let people know that, and let the organisers know that we're not happy with that.
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Mar 2011
7:37pm, 8 Mar 2011
31,989 posts
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plodding hippo
oh yeah
it s just the thought of that man with the gun
Cut off is about the first thing i ask in a marathon
I do rant at race organisers about that fact(unadvertised cut offs, running out of water and so on)
Thankfully its happening less often
My ultra time was recorded
i also got a startford mara half way cut off changed
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Mar 2011
7:45pm, 8 Mar 2011
8,109 posts
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Ultra Kazzaaaaah!!
Surely if a race has a strict cut-off then it's the responsibility of the RD to publish that rather than runners to find it out? Or am I missing the point?
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Mar 2011
7:47pm, 8 Mar 2011
58 posts
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Traviss
Agree, responsibility is a two way street. I think the measure of a race isn't how they treat the winner, its how they treat the last finisher. So if they run out of stuff they said they would provide, then that's unacceptable and we should let them know. Then ultimately vote with our race entry fees, there is an ever expanding choice available... I'm harsher myself in expectations in a "for profit" race vs a "charity or not for profit" event, if a £5 LDWA event runs out of biscuits at the finish, then oh well, no big deal, I'm appreciative of the event anyway. When, lets say the London Ultra 50k says they'll provide a t-shirt for my £40 entry and don't... then I'm rather less happy.
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Mar 2011
7:49pm, 8 Mar 2011
59 posts
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Traviss
I do think RDs should publish time limts, absolutely agree. if they don't then I think as a runner its my responsibilty to find that out. If I don't know what the cut off is, or if the RDs don't reply to an email asking about it, then I wouldn't enter...
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Mar 2011
7:55pm, 8 Mar 2011
31,991 posts
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plodding hippo
Agree traviss
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Mar 2011
7:56pm, 8 Mar 2011
31,992 posts
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plodding hippo
If they CBA to reply to a mial asking about a cut off, then, no, i would not enter either
would not bode well for the race
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